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While one GAME staff member described scenes in the store as "chaos" as eager gamers clambered to get their hands on the PS3 and Xbox 360 game.

Market strategist Ishaq Siddiqi described GTA as a "great British export" and compared it to legendary band The Beatles and iconic brand Cadbury's.

Mr Siddiqi, from financial spread betting firm ETX Capital, said: "The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Cadbury's, Rolls-Royce... the list of some of the greatest British exports goes on and on.

"But not many believed a sandbox violent crime thriller video game series, Grand Theft Auto by RockStar Games, would become one of the latest entrants on that list."